Romania 0-3 Netherlands: Ronald Koeman’s side set up quarter-final with Austria or Turkey as Donyell Malen nets late brace to add to Cody Gakpo first-half strike

On the eve of the conflict towards Romania, Cody Gakpo mentioned the Netherlands are it as the beginning of a 'new match'.

Of their finest efficiency of the match, Ronald Koeman's facet fully dominated the Dutch facet, impressed by Gakpo himself, who scored a objective and an help.

Having progressed as one of many 4 finest third-placed groups, they’ll head into their first Euro quarter-final in 16 years on Saturday night time in Berlin towards both Austria or Turkey stuffed with confidence.

For the under-pressure Koeman, maybe extra necessary than the win was the efficiency – a efficiency that will ease the stress from the Dutch media, which has not budged because the defeat to Austria.

“The win is necessary, however we’re Dutch and in Holland we now have to play effectively and play attacking soccer,” Koeman mentioned. “The entire efficiency was incredible and that's what we would have liked to have an opportunity. That is the extent and if we go down, we gained't be within the closing,” the Dutch supervisor insisted.

In 1988 a Dutch group together with Koeman gained the Euros – their solely main trophy so far – on the now-abandoned Olympic Stadium simply six miles from the Allianz Enviornment.

So it was solely becoming that the 1000’s of Dutch followers who flocked to the Bavarian capital additionally made the journey on foot via their Fan March, which has grow to be one of many sights and sounds of this match.

Koeman known as on his gamers to rekindle the spirit of the 1988 group and now his gamers will head to Berlin decided to make historical past.

He made three adjustments to the group from the defeat to Austria, bringing in Denzel Dumfries, Steven Bergwijn and Xavi Simons.

This summer time has already been a memorable one for Edward Iordanescu's Romania, nevertheless it was finally an enormous step again.

“At the moment we ended an important story,” Iordanescu mentioned. “My household wants me greater than the nationwide group. There’s a little bit of unhappiness, however we gave our all,” the Romanian supervisor added.

He made two adjustments, bringing within the splendidly named Denis Man on the suitable flank, giving Gheorghe Hagi's son Ianis the prospect to begin on the left flank.

Hagi Sr. had predicted earlier than the match that Romania may attain the final 4 and the Tricolori group, buoyed by a sea of ​​yellow, moved rapidly.

Romanian followers behind the Dutch objective unfurled a banner that learn 'Dam totul pana la closing' which implies 'I’m giving my all till the ultimate' they usually did simply that however with the sport taking part in out the Dutch took the lead within the twentieth minute. Simons discovered Gakpo on the left and the Liverpool participant reduce in together with his proper foot after which managed to attain previous Florin Nita on the close to publish.

“He (Gakpo) is at a incredible stage right here and has been a very powerful participant for us,” Koeman mentioned.

The Romanian goalkeeper ought to have accomplished higher however that didn’t deter Gakpo as he scored his third objective of the match to grow to be joint high scorer alongside Georges Mikotadze, Jamal Musiala and Ivan Shranj.

The Dutch have been now transferring the ball ahead with confidence and it took a goal-saving sort out from Radu Dragusin to forestall Memphis Depay from having a tap-in after Dumfries had are available in behind the Romanian backline.

Romania's Vasile Mogos suffered a foul blow and needed to go away the sphere simply earlier than half-time, because the Dutch took management of the sport and will have scored a second objective within the forty third minute.

It was Dumfries' play once more, this time he denied substitute Bogdan Racovitan the ball, however Simmons failed to go the ball into the objective from contained in the field.

The Dutch had by now fully dominated Romania, incomes ten corners within the first half itself, however a uncommon mistake from Virgil van Dijk allowed Denis Dragus to place Romania's solely shot on the right track.

Koeman changed Steven Bergwijn with Donyell Malen at half-time and it was extra of the identical because the Dutchman had a go on the Romanian objective however failed to attain a second objective.

First, Tijjani Reinders had a robust effort blocked, depriving him of a objective of the match contender, then Memphis Depay and Malen missed golden alternatives.

Minutes later, Van Dijk's header hit the publish after which Gakpo's shot was pushed behind by Nita for a nook.

After an hour, Gakpo thought he had put the sport to mattress however VAR dominated his objective offside.

By now it had grow to be silly and when substitute Joe Veerman's side-footed effort went inches large after Simons had headed the ball ahead, Koeman couldn’t cover his disbelief.

It will have been an important second for Veerman, having been despatched off within the thirty fifth minute of the defeat to Austria, however his nerves have been allayed eight minutes from time when Gakpo brilliantly handed the ball to Malen, who headed the ball into the free web.

On the touchline, Koeman raised his arms and breathed a sigh of reduction.

Behind the Dutch objective, the Orange Military started to surge and Malen put the icing on the cake after an exquisite Dutch counter, making the rating three.

For Romania, the watch for a knockout spherical win since Pasadena in 1994 continues, however they will look again on this match with numerous satisfaction.